Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-07-14

the dishes.
'Joab Whitley asked me 10 go with him,
said Elsie, with dropping lashes, and |
thought
:Joab Whitley, indeed = angrily retorte'l
Helena Elvira. ia like 10 know what
business widow like you has 10 be career
ing around the country with Joab Whitley,
ar any other young man
is IL wrong p breathlessly asked Elsie.
oh, Helena Elvira but Paul has been
dead year now, aud, after all, am only
eighteen
Quite old enough 10 know better, said
Helena Elvira. IN go with Joab, and ex-
plain ID all TO him. It's quite impossible
for ma 10 spare you"
but lac didn't ask you I flashed out FL
sic.
Helena Elvira laughed-a hard, cracking
laugh.
Jealous, ELI p said she. But you may as
well spare yourself the trouble, Elsie. Joab
Whitley never would care for you
In the Spruce household Helena Elyira's
will was law, and Elsie found herself COM
PEELED 10 submit.
She was washing dishes, sorrowfully and
alone, In the kitchen, that evening, wonder
ing why she should be placed outside the
pale of human enioyments and affections,
when, unexpectedly enough, the l.. door
opened, and In walked honest Joab himself
is 1t true, Elsie Spruce q said he.
Didn't you really want 10 go 10 singing
school with me tonight %
'Oh Joab who told you that p exclaim-
ed Elsie, scarcely knowing whether 10 laugh
or cry.
why, Helena Elvira, of course
Tt was not true, Joab = whispered Elsie.
OF course il wasn't = said he Il might
have known Ii. She Ii false, treacherous
human cat and you Elsie-well, you are
the sweetest little darling in all the world,
and il goes to my very heart TO see you
drudging and toiling here, like slave BE
my wife, Elsie-come home 10 the Old Red
Cottage with me-and you shall live as a
lady should =
What could Elsie Spruce answer but
yes?
And il was not until half an hour of
blissful lover talk had passed that she re-
membered herself sufficiently 10 cry out
But, what will Mr.. and Mrs Spruce say ?
1t will cost Mr.. Spruce so much 10 hire q
girl to take my place, and Mrs. Spruce is
firmly convinced that-that you are i'm love
with Helena Elvira Z
Bother Mr.. Spruce = said Joab, reckless
ly 'and Mrs. Spruce must unconvince her
self the best way she can. Helena Elvira,
indeed Why, I'd rs soon marry yonder
clothes post Z
But Joab Whitley had hardly calculated
upon the energy of the domestic storm
which spent itself upon poor Elsie when
the actual truth transpired. Helena Elvira
sobbed, wept, and declared herself the vic
tim Of n foul conspiracy.
Il felt cold chill creep all over me when
first set my eyes ON that girl six months
ago. she bewailed herself Il knew she
was n serpent. fated to sap my life's blood "
Elsie = said Mrs Spruce, sternly, you
must either give up this young man or leave
this house =
Il can't give up Joab = said Elsie, burst
ing into tears. Il love Joab 2
Il never heard anything SO inmodest In
my life (" shrieked Helena Elvira.
The only way TO settle this question:
said Joab, when he heard of the general
commotion, is for me and Elsie to get mar
ried at once"
But Mrs. Spruce herself visited the Old
Red Cottage In Helena Elvira's behalf
Il don't think you understand exactly
how matters are situated, Joab, she said,
with her most maternal smile. Our dear
Helena Elvira-who IN all shrinking mod
esty and clinging affection-will inherit the
whole of Chalk Farm and ten thousand dol
lars In hard cash the very day that she
marries.
But what is that TO me p said Joab
Whitley, drumming his fingers on the win
dow-sill. Il hope she may be happily mar
ried, but
And breathlessly added Mrs. Spruce,
'Pauls widow has nothing but the gown
she stands up in =
what of that p said Joab, stoutly. Il
love her-and she loves me 7
well, said Mrs. Spruce, tartly, ff You
are determined to make fools of yourselves,
you can do so.'
And thus speaking, she shook the dust of
sha nll D..l rot+arxa 90 has faas fa lsou,1f
But when she reached Chalk Farm once
more, her husband was sitting In the best
room, with his head I'm his hands, and face
as pale as ashes, while opposite him stood
spare, wrinkled, elderly man in black.
Mrs. Spruce stopped ON the threshold just
In time to hear the concluding words of the
strangers sentence.
According to your own account of IL,
Hubbard Spruce" he said, you have been
this girl of her legal rights.
You have been swindling her systematical-
ly and deliberately. You have laid youl-
self open to the severest penalty of the
law 7
Don't, Mr.. Payne-don't 7 interposed
Elsie, who had advanced out OF the shad-
owy angle of the room. HE is my father
in-law He has been good 10 me 7
He has behaved like n scoundrel = stern
ly said Mr.. Payne And It only remains
for you to lodge an accusation In order that
he may be placed In the prison cell that he
richly deserves T
But Elsie put her arms around Hubbard
Spruces shoulder, MS If to shield him.
Never 7 she said.
Thank God for that word, Elsie = said
Mrs. Spruce, hurrying forward. Your
meant no harm. He always
some time, to give Ii back to you.
What is this lawyer doing here p
He is the gentleman who always had
charge of the Chalk Hill estates, saidElsie
He came to see me about buying some more
land. This Is the first knew of-of poor